Can key



Augn 26, 1947. H. A. DAVIS CAN KEY 4 Filed'Jan. 25, 194e ,Y a HAROLD A DAvls Patented Aug. 26, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN KEY Harold A. Davis, Belleville, Mich.

Application `l'anuary ,25, 1946, Serial No. 643,239

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to can opening devices, and more particularly to a key device for opening cans.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved key device for opening cans, said device being very simple in structure, easy to use and being very eicient in operation.

A further object of the invention is to prou vide an improved key device for opening cans, said device being very economical to manufacture and being adapted to allow the user to readily detach the stripped portion of a can therefrom after the can opening operation whereby the device may be again used.

Further objects and advantages of the invention` will appear from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a bottom view of a can opening key device according to this invention, shown in operative position with respect to a can at the beginning of the can opening operation.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the can opening key device of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view of the key device of Figure l.

Figure 4 .is a detail transverse cross-sectional view taken through the forward portion of the key device during the can opening operation,

Figure 5 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, II designates a first body member which is formed of sheet material, such as sheet metal, and comprises a forWard jaw element l2 twisted at right angles to the remainder of the body member, a lug element i3 formed intermediate the length or the body member and a lug element I4 formed at the rear end of the body member. Forward jaw element I2 is downwardly bowed in cross-sectional contour to provide a longitudinal trough 29 therein.

Designated at It is a second body member formed from sheet material, such as sheet metal, said second body member having a forward jaw element I9 shaped to form a longitudinal generally cylindrical sleeve member Ii which encircles trough-shaped jaw element I2, said sleeve member being formed with a downwardly bowed longitudinal trough portion 3@ disposed oppo" site trough 29. Sleeve member I6 is further formed with a forwardly open-ended longitudinal slot il, said slot being substantially parallel to trough 3B and adjacent thereto.

Body member I 3 is formed with an intermediate lug 2t which is pivotally secured to lug I3 by a rivet 22, and is further formed with an end lug 2| disposed adjacent end lug I 4. End lug I4 is formed with an arcuate slot 24 through which slidably passes a rivet 25 carried by end lug 2I whereby a limited amount of relative rotation between body member II and body member I8 is allowed. A coil spring 26 is secured to body members II and I8 in the intermediate recessed portions thereof between lugs I3 and 20 and lugs I4 and 2I. Spring 26 biases forward jaw I2 to an open position with respect to trough 3l] of sleeve I6. In this position trough member 29 is below the horizontal plane of slot I'l.

To use the device the projecting tongue 2'I of a can 28 is inserted in slot I'l between the separated trough portions 29 and 30 and body members II and I8 are squeezed together against the biasing pressure of spring 26. This moves trough portion 29 toward trough portion 3l) thereby crimping tongue 2l to a sinuous shape, as shown in Figure fl. The device is then rotated for about one turn, causing the stripped metal to encircle sleeve I6, as shown .in .Figure fl. The squeezing pressure on body members II and I8 may then be relaxed and the rotation of the device continued until the stripping process is completed. When the stripped metal has been completely removed from the can the metal may be pushed forwardly off sleeve I 5, tongue 21 passing through the open end of slot I'I. The device is then ready for further use.

It is readily apparent that where a key device as above described is available the necessity of furnishing a key with each can is eliminated.

While a specic embodiment of a key can opening device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A can opener key device comprising a rst body member formed with a first forward jaw portion, a second body member formed with a sleeve encircling said first forward jaw portion, said body members being pivotally connected together, a spring secured between said body members and biasing said rst forward jaw portion away from an inner surface of said sleeve, said sleeve being formed with a slot opening at the forward edge of said sleeve and disposed in a plane between the plane of said first jaw portion when it is in its normal position and said inner surface.

2. The structure of claim 1, and wherein said spring is located on the opposite side of the pivotal connection of the Ibody members with respect to said first jaw portion and said sleeve.

3. The structure of claim l, and wherein said body members are slidably secured together.

4. A can opener key devicel comprising a rst body member formed with a rst forward jaw portion, a second body member formed with a second forward jaw portion, said body members being pivotally connected together at their intermediate portions and slidably connected together at their rear portion, the iirst jaw portion being disposed adjacent said second jaw portion, a spring secured between said body members basing said jaw portions apart, said spring being located rearwardly of the pivotal connection between the body members, and a sleeve carried by one of the jaw portions and encircling the other jaw portion, said sleeve being formed with a longitudinal slot opening at the forward edge of the sleeve, said slot being located in a plane between the planes of the jaw portions when said jaw portions are in their normal positions.

5. The structure of claim 4, and wherein each jaw portion lies in a pla-ne at right angles to its body member.

6. The structure of claim 4, and wherein said spring is located between the pivotal connection of the body members and the slidable connection of said body members.

'7. The structure of claim 4, and wherein said jaw portions are longitudinally corrugated.

HAROLD A. DAVIS. 

